Cold weather outerwear

ABSTRACT

An outerwear system for use in cold weather includes a vest to which external components may be attached. These components include sleeves, a cape, a hood, and a vest extension. The components may be individually attachable to the vest by slide fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing generally and specifically toouterwear for use in cold weather.

On colder days, most people don coats to keep themselves warmer when outof doors for a length of time. On very cold days, and especially whenout of doors for extended periods, the choice of what garments to wearto keep warm can be as important from a safety standpoint as forcomfort. Without adequate insulation from outerwear to preserve bodyheat, a person can suffer hypothermia or freeze to death. A person outof doors on such days will generate more or less body heat depending onthe activities engaged in. Furthermore, the type of activity of thewearer may vary greatly, ranging from sitting for extended periods inthe cold when hunting or when attending a sports event, to much morerigorous activity such as hiking over rough terrain. Thus theanticipated outdoor activity of the wearer will have a significantbearing on the choice of outerwear.

Outerwear, which term refers to garments worn over other the clothingtypically worn indoors, includes coats, vests, hats, scarves, gloves,hoods, and capes, all of varying sizes and styles. Outerwear may be madeof natural or man-made materials, woven or non-woven fabrics, andcombinations of fabrics. Outerwear may use a variety of closures such asslide fasteners, buttons, and hooks and loops. Specialty outerwear forhunting may carry camouflage patterns and textures.

There is a need for outerwear that can be easily and quickly adapted forthe particular activity level of the individual, not only in advance butat the time of the activity level change. If a hunter has been sittingfor an extended period of time in very cold weather and then begins towalk, the increasing activity will at first warm her but may eventuallymake her uncomfortably warm. Being able to reduce the ability of theouterwear to insulate or alternatively to increase its ability to ventheat from the outerwear is important in keeping the wearer from becomingtoo warm and perspiring while at the higher activity level only to maymake her even colder when her activity level is again reduced.

Thus there remains a need for improvement in outerwear garments,particularly in cold weather for extended out of door use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to its major aspects and briefly recited, the presentinvention is an outerwear system to be worn by an individual forextended periods out of doors in cold temperatures. The improvedouterwear system includes a vest that serves as a hub to which variouscomponents may be attached as needed. These components include a hood, acape, sleeves, and a vest extension to extend the vest to cover thelower torso and legs. These components are preferably attached withslide fasteners.

The outerwear according to a preferred embodiment is made of a materialthat consists of at least three layers: an inner non-woven fabric whichprovides both warmth and comfort to the wearer, a second layer ispreferably made of a polymer impregnated with scent absorbing compounds.The third layer is preferably made of a woven material such asbreathable wool or synthetic, preferably waterproofed. For use of thepresent outerwear in hunting, the third layer may carry a camouflagepattern or texture and the intermediate layer can carry an odorabsorber.

The choice of components is a major feature of the present invention. Asthe need for preserving body heat increases, the combination of hood,cape, sleeves and vest extension become more important as a way toextend the outerwear to cover those parts of the body that can also loseheat: the head and arms, the lower abdomen and thighs. In addition, thecape doubles the insulation on the body core and brings the arms withinit to keep them warmer.

The system of individually attachable components is another majorfeature of the present invention. Each component can be attached or not,as the user wishes. This feature allows the user to select thosecomponents needed for the activity engaged in and to shed them one at atime as no longer needed.

These and other features and their advantages will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art of apparel design from a careful reading of theDetailed Description of Preferred Embodiments accompanied by thefollowing drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vest of the proposed outerwear wornby a wearer, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the outerwear showing variouscomponents detached and separated from the vest near each respectivepoint of attachment;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the turned up collar on the vest according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the hood attached to the vest,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a side cross sectional view of the collar of the vest in aturned down position;

FIG. 5B is a detailed, cross sectional, perspective view of the turneddown collar, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5C is a detailed, cross sectional, perspective view of the turnedup collar with hood and cape being attached, according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outerwear system worn by a wearer,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred material for theouterwear, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 8 is a perspective detailed view of the present outerwear systemshowing a liner that may be attached therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, there is shown an outerwear system accordingto the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The outerwearsystem, generally indicated by reference number 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 6),is for use in cold weather by someone who will remain out of doors forextended periods of time. Outerwear system 10 is characterized by a setof components that individually can be attached to a vest 12 as neededby a user 14.

FIG. 1 shows vest 12 on user 14. Vest 12 is shown with a collar 20upturned to reveal a first portion of each of two slide fasteners 22,24. A first portion of each of three slide fasteners 26, 28, and 30 islocated at each of two armholes 46, 48, and at waist 50. Slide fastenersare preferred as closures for the present outerwear because they arefamiliar, are easily operated, are compact and can provide a completeseal of the joined components. Other closures, such as buttons and hooksand loops, may also be used. Vest 12 would be worn for minimal warmth,such as on days that are not very cold, when user 14 is active, or whenuser 14 is not expecting to be out of doors for greatly extended times.Vest 12 covers the chest, back shoulders, lower back and upper abdomento provide warmth for the core of user 14's body. One of more vestpockets 29 may also be positioned on the exterior surface of vest 12 toprovide increased carrying capacity or additional warmth for hands.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of outerwear system 10. Theattachable components of outerwear system are shown: a hood 60, a cape62, a left sleeve 64, a right sleeve 66, and an extension 68. Eachcomponent is individually attachable and detachable; that is, any onecomponent can be attached in any order and without any of the othersbeing attached and any one component can be detached in any order andwithout any of the others being detached. When detached, each componentcan be stored in a pouch 70 formed on the inside back of vest 12.

Hood 60 covers the head and neck of user 14. Preferably hood 60 isgenerously cut so that user can also wear a hat under it if desired.Hood 60 carries a second portion of a slide fastener 72 along one edgeto allow it to be fastened to first portion 22 of slide fastener oncollar 20 of vest 12. In order to fasten hood 60 to vest 12, collar 20is turned up to reveal first portion 22 of slide fastener, whereupon,second portion 72 can be attached to first portion 22, as best seen inFIGS. 3, 4, 5A and 5C.

Cape 62 covers shoulders and upper torso down at least to the waist ofuser 14. Cape 62 carries a second portion 74 of a slide fastener toallow it to be fastened to first portion 24 of slide fastener on collar20 of vest 12. In order to fasten cape 62 to vest 12, collar 20 isturned up to reveal first portion 24 of slide fastener, whereupon,second portion 74 can be attached to first portion 24, as best seen inFIGS. 3, 4, 5A and 5C. Cape 62 may also include one or more cape pockets63 formed on the inside surface of the cape to provide increasedcarrying capacity or additional warmth for the hands.

Left and rights sleeves 64, 66, cover the left and right arms of user 14from shoulder to wrist and are attachable using second portions 76, 78,respectively of slide fasteners to second portions 26, 28, respectively,of slide fasteners at arm holes 46, 48, of vest 12.

Finally, extension 68 covers lower abdomen, buttocks and thighs of user14 and is attachable to second portion 30 of slide fastener of vest 12using a second portion 80 of extension. Extension 68 has a button orsnap fastener 86 to connect a front 82 of extension 68 to a back 84 ofextension 68 so as to partially close the opening in extension 68between the legs of user 14. FIG. 6 shows outerwear system 10 with allcomponents attached.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view of a material 90 suitable forouterwear system 10. Material 90 is composed of three layers, as shown,or a different number of layers depending on the intended use andfunction of the outerwear system. A first layer 92, preferably an innerlayer, is made of a non-woven fabric such as a needle felted fabric of asynthetic or man-made fiber or fleece. First layer 92 provides warmth tothe wearer of the outerwear and is preferably comfortable against theskin. A second layer provides additional insulation but is optionallyalso a scent control layer 94 that may be made from anactivated-charcoal impregnated fabric of either a woven or non-wovenconstruction. Second layer 94 is useful when outerwear system 10 is tobe used for hunting and the scent of the hunter is to be minimized. Athird layer 96 may be made of a woven material of either a manmade orsynthetic fiber. Third layer 96 may incorporate water-resistant andstain-resistant treatments and may optionally carry camouflagingpatterns and textures. Each component may be made of material 90.

FIG. 8 shows a component 98 of outerwear system and a liner 100. Liner100 is preferably attached to the interior of component 98 by a linerslide fastener 102. As indicated above, one of ordinary skill in the artof apparel design can readily envision numerous means of attaching liner100 to component 96, including heat fusion, adhesives, sewing, hook andloop fasteners and, as illustrated, slide fasteners. In addition, in thepresent outerwear system, preferably, any layer of any component can beattached to any layer of vest 12 in order to provide the user withcomplete flexibility and to avoid the need to attach, for example, alllayers of cape 62 to vest 12 when the user may only want to attach anouter layer of cape 62 to vest 12.

Many modifications and substitutions will be apparent to those skilledin the art of clothing manufacture from the foregoing description of thepreferred embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of thepresent invention. It is intended that the scope of the presentinvention includes all modifications that incorporate its principaldesign features, and that the scope and limitations of the presentinvention are to be determined by the appended claim.

1. An outerwear system to be worn by a user, said outerwear systemcomprising: a vest covering the chest, back, and shoulders of a user;and a vest extension removably attachable to said vest, said vestextension covering the thighs of the user.
 2. The outerwear system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said vest extension has a front and a backand carries means for connecting said front to said back between thethighs of the user.
 3. The outerwear system as recited in claim 1,further comprising a cape removably attachable to said vest.
 4. Theouterwear system as recited in claim 3, wherein said vest has a collarcarrying a first portion of a slide fastener and wherein said capecarries a second portion of a slide fastener, said first portion of saidslide fastener being attachable to said second portion of said slidefastener to fasten said cape to said vest.
 5. The outerwear system asrecited in claim 4, wherein said collar has a top side and an opposingunderside, and wherein said first portion of said slide fastener iscarried on said underside of said collar.
 6. The outerwear system asrecited in claim 1, further comprising a hood removably attachable tosaid vest.
 7. The outerwear system as recited in claim 6, wherein saidhood is dimensioned to permit the user to wear a hat under said hood. 8.The outerwear system as recited in claim 6, wherein said vest has acollar carrying a first portion of a slide fastener and wherein saidhood carries a second portion of a slide fastener, said first portion ofsaid slide fastener being attachable to said second portion of saidslide fastener to fasten said hood to said vest.
 9. The outerwear systemas recited in claim 8, wherein said collar has a top side and anopposing underside, and wherein said first portion of said slidefastener is carried on said underside of said collar.
 10. The outerwearsystem as recited in claim 1, further comprising a left sleeve and aright sleeve, said left and said right sleeves covering said left andsaid right arms, respectively, of the user and being removablyattachable to said vest.
 11. The outerwear system as recited in claim 1,further comprising a left sleeve, a right sleeve, a cape and a hood,said left sleeve, said right sleeve, said cape and said hood each beingremovably attachable to said vest in any combination.
 12. The outerwearsystem as recited in claim 1, wherein said vest carries a pouchdimensioned for carrying said vest extension.
 13. The outerwear systemas recited in claim 11, wherein said vest carries a pouch dimensionedfor carrying said vest extension, said left sleeve, said right sleeve,said cape and said hood.
 14. The outerwear system as recited in claim 1,wherein said vest and said vest extension are composed of at least threelayers, said at least three layers including an inner layer, anintermediate layer and an outer layer, said intermediate layer carryingan odor-absorber.
 15. The outerwear system as recited in claim 14,wherein said inner layer is made of a non-woven material.
 16. Theouterwear system as recited in claim 14, wherein said outer layer ismade of a woven material.
 17. The outerwear system as recited in claim1, wherein said vest and said vest extension are composed of at leastthree layers, including an inner layer, an intermediate layer and anouter layer, said outer layer of said vest being removably attachable tosaid outer layer of said vest extension without said intermediate andinner layers of said vest.
 18. The outerwear system as recited in claim1, wherein said vest carries a first portion of a slide fastener andsaid vest extension carries a second portion of a slide fastener, saidfirst and said second portions of said slide fasteners being fastenabletogether to attach said vest and said vest extension.
 19. The outerwearsystem as recited in claim 3, wherein said cape has interior pocketsdimensioned to receive the hands of the user.
 20. The outerwear systemas recited in claim 1, wherein said vest and vest extension carry acamouflage pattern.